Monday, January 9, 2017

Rachael Thomas & Getting Past the Dreaded Block

Please welcome Rachael Thomas back to the blog today!
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Every writer, published or not, knows what it’s like to encounter that awful demon, writer’s block. That time when you are certain every word you write is utter rubbish or worse, where you can’t write a word. It begins with a little doubt monster and very soon can get out of control, preventing you from writing anything.

It’s happened to me, but thankfully not for any length of time. So here are a few of my go to solutions.

Write A Different Way

Writing longhand can often free up your mind. So grab a pen or pencil and pad and continue your work from the point you became blocked or even start a new scene or chapter.

Find a new place. A change of scenery often helps. It could be as simple as another room at home or a local café.

If you can’t continue with your current work in progress, try some freewriting. For instance, it is January now, so where does that take your mind? Put your pen on the page and just let your mind wander, writing down every random thought which comes to your mind for the next ten minutes.

Don’t Write

You may be wondering what kind of advice this is, but sometimes it helps to step away from the keyboard and your work in progress. Take a break and clear your mind.

Take a walk. My dog gets extra-long walks when I need thinking time to unblock my creativity.

Relax and watch your favourite television show or even a movie.

Do whatever makes you happy, as happiness generates positivity and that keeps the monster of doubt at bay, stopping it from becoming a complete block.

If the block is really bad, give yourself the rest of the day off. Tomorrow is another day.

Reward Yourself

Give yourself a small incentive if you hit your session or daily target.

For those larger targets, like reaching the half way point or completing the book, reward yourself with a bigger treat. Perhaps a day out with friends.

And Finally

Don’t wait too long for your creativity to return. Force it to come back. Tell yourself you will write just one paragraph or for ten minutes only. Taking the pressure off might be enough to get past that block. Also, always believe in yourself and your writing. Don’t allow those doubt monsters in.

If you have any others to add, I’d love to know!

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Rachael Thomas

I love escaping to distant shores with my characters, entering their glamorous world and feeling all the emotions they experience as they discover their love for one another. A love so strong it will overcome all obstacles eventually, leading to that promised happy ever after.

Nikolai Cunningham has kept his family history secret for seventeen years. So when photographer Emma Sanders is granted exclusive access to his childhood home, he returns to Russia to ensure it stays hidden.

Though she tries to keep her eye on the story, Nikolai's potent sexuality proves too much for Emma's untouched body to resist! But, convinced she only wanted a scoop, Nikolai casts Emma out, unaware she's pregnant!

When the consequence of their recklessness is revealed, Nikolai will legitimize his heir—with a gold wedding ring!

Great tips, Rachel. I'm a nonfiction writer now and plan out all my articles for the month beforehand for my job. It really helps with showing up and writing every day because what I write is already planned and researched. Showing up can really help.

I usually find that when I have writer's block, it's because I am approaching the story from the wrong way or trying to take it in a direction it shouldn't go. I liken it to being lost in the woods. Sometimes you have to go back a ways and find the right path.

Interesting perspective about writing, or lack of, by Rachael. I'm going to treat myself after this because I've attempted to comment in longhand.

Although I'm not writing much these days because I want to give others a chance to be noticed in the blogging world. I would just add that there is no such thing as writer's block. After all, if you started writing about having writer's block, it would prove that you don't have such a thing by writing one disjointed sentence after another disjointed sentence about having writer's block that you don't really have. And yep, start a sentence with the conjunction word "and", and suddenly realise you're writing run-on sentences....